Rate My Teachers

When I started teaching seventh grade English/social studies in 1965, I had students rate my teaching performance at the end of the year. As I grew more confident in my teaching ability, I had students rate my teaching at the end of each marking quarter. As time went on, I built in a personal conference with each student to discuss grades. As a result of student feedback, I changed or didn't change my teaching behavior. I grew from the experience. I also had very candid and honest discussions with students which for the most part contributed to good teacher-student relationships. I also learned to listen to painful feedback, but that was part of the risk.

I have been teaching(or leading) for thirty nine years and I continue to hold a personal conference with each student as well as conduct student assessments(required by my university). I regard the discussions as a professional matter between the students and me. I have mixed feelings about posting student ratings of teacher performance, although I endorse their use at most levels.